Obamacare affect on consumers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report Wednesday on how Obamacare will affect consumers.

Hoosiers will be able to choose among 34 healthcare plan choices under Obamacare beginning October 1st.

That‘s when folks who don‘t already have employer-backed health insurance can start signing up. Jackie Garner is with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Chicago.

Garner says upwards of 30 million Americans may be eligible, but they expect about 7 million to sign up in the first year.

Garner says plans take effect January 1, 2014, but Americans can actually sign up through March 31st of 2014. HHS data shows that a 27-year-old single Hoosier who makes $25,000 a year can get very basic coverage from anywhere from $80 to $145 a month after tax credit.

It also shows that a family of four with an income of $50,000 can get very basic coverage from anywhere from $46 to $282 a month after tax credit.

Garner says folks can begin signing up October 1st by visiting Healthcare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596.